Show-case for umbrellas, canes, and the like.



A. A. GRAU.

snow CASE FOR UMBRELLAS, OANES, AND THE LIKE.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 20, 1908.

953,331 Patented Mar. 29, 1910.

rm. 1 3 I I 1 \JW WI IVE-$858.

ANDREW I:v GRANLM co, Puu'm-LnMcGRn NERs. WASHINGTON, c

ADAM A. GRAU, on MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

SHOW-CASE FOR UMBRELLAS, CANES, AND THE LIKE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADAM A. GRAU, residing in Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Show- Cases for Umbrellas, Canes, and the Like, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification.

My invention has relation to improvements in show cases for umbrellas, canes, and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple form of show case which will display a maximum quantity of the articles to the very best advantage, and which, when the goods are not being displayed, can be completely and securely closed up, and the goods thereby prevented from being damaged or spoiled by reason of undue exposure.

With the above primary object, and other incidental objects, in view, the invention consists of the devices and parts, or their equivalents, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a transverse section of the case, with the pivoted or hinged sectional front thereof closed; Fig. 2 is a similar view of Fig. 1 but showing the sectional front turned out on the hinge connections; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the device, parts broken away; Fig. 4 is a view of a fragment of the front of the device, with the hinged front closed; Fig. 5 is a cross section through one of the interior tubes; Fig. 6 is a detail view of the clamp; and, Fig. 7 is a horizontal section of a fragment of one of the tubes looking downwardly.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 8 indicates the case, which is preferably of rectangular form. The front side of the case is made up of sections, the lower larger section being indicated by the numeral 9, and the upper smaller section by the numeral 10. The lower edge of the lower section is hinged to a protruding portion of the bottom of the casing by a hinge connection 11, and the lower edge of the upper small section is hinged to the upper edge of the large section by a hinge connection 12.

Secured to the bottom of the case are front and rear cleats 13 and 14;, respectively. The space between said cleats is filled up by a plate 15 having'its front and rear edges se- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 20, 1908.

Patented Mar. 29, 1910.

Serial No. 449,390.

cured to said cleats. This plate forms a rest or support for the lower ends of the umbrellas and canes, and as a means for better accomplishing this purpose said plate is formed with a series of depressions constituting pockets 16 in which the lower ends of the articles are received.

Pivoted to the back piece of the case, and extending forwardly in close proximity to the end pieces of said case are lazy-tongs 17-17. The forward ends of these tongs are pivotally connected to the lower hinge section 9 of the front of the case, near the upper edge of said section 9.

A series of tubes 18 are arranged lengthwise of the upper portion of the case. Each tube is provided on its under side, and throughout its length, with a longitudinal slot 19. The opposite ends of each tube are closed by caps 20-20, which are preferably removable. Each cap has projecting therefrom a pin or pintle 21. These pins or pintles extend to and connect with the respective lazy-tongs at the points of intersection or crossing of the different levers of the tongs, as clearly shown in the drawing. The tubes 18 constitute the means for removably holding a series of clamps, which clamps are adapted to engage the umbrellas, canes, or other devices to be displayed. The clamping mechanism I prefer to be of the specific form shown in the drawing, and which will now be specifically described. Each clamping mechanism is in the form of a combined spring and clamp constructed from a single piece of spring wire. From one end this wire is bent into a series of spring coils 22. From one of the end coils of this series of coils the wire is continued downwardly, as indicated by the numeral 23, and thence carried in one direction at right angles to the coils, thence looped and carried back and twisted, as indicated by the numeral 24:, said twisted portion forming one of the handles of the device, thence continued in the same direction and turned around into loop form, the loop being preferably curved or bent inwardly, thence carried back and twisted until the downwardly bent portion 23 is reached, the said last described twisted portion forming one of the jaws 25 of the clamp, thence carried across in a single strand 26, thence carried in a direction at right angles to the strand 26, thence looped the loop being preferably bent inward and carried back and twisted between the jaws.

to form the other jaw 27 of the clamp,

thence continued in the same direction and looped and carried back in a twist to form the other arm 28 of the clamp, thence carried upwardly to form the member 29 corresponding to the member 23, thence coiled around to form a second series of spring coils 30. The different clamping devices constructed as above described are adjusted to the several tubes 18 by removing the end caps 20 of said tubes and passing the springs 22 and 30 into the tubes, the depending portions 23 and 29 which connect the springs to the clamp passing through the slot 19 of each tube, so that the clamps occupy positions beneath the tubes.

In adjusting umbrellas, canes, and the like, such as 31, to the clamps, all that is necessary is to press together the handles 24 and 28 of each clamp. This will open the jaws 25 and 27, and permit the upper ends of the articles to be readily inserted The handles are then released, and the jaws by reason of the spring action will close over the upper end of the article, and thereby securely retain the article. When it is desired to remove an umbrella, or the like, all that is necessary, is to press the handles of the clamp together, when, of course, there is no further barrier to the free withdrawal of the article.

When the different umbrellas, canes, parasols, and the like are adjusted to the clamps in the manner described, the front of the case is closed by turning up the hinged sections 9 and 10, and securing said sections in any desirable manner. As a means for releasably holding the upper section 10, I show a hinged top 32, preferably of glass the forward edge of said top protruding slightly beyond the front of the case, and provided on its under side with a notch 33 adapted to engage the upper edge of the section 10.

When it is desired to display the goods to a customer, all that is necessary to be done is to lift the top 32. This releases the front hinged sections and permits the same to drop to the position shown in Fig. 2. As the forward ends of the lazy-tongs are connected to the lower section 9 of the hinged front, it will be evident that when said front is turned outwardly on its hinges, as just explained, the lazy-tongs will be pulled outwardly and thereby elongated, whereby the goods are brought into plain view of the customer, and also within easy reach of the clerk. When the goods are not being displayed, it is desirable, in order to prevent damage thereto, that the hinged front sections 9 and 10 should be again closed. In closing the front section 9, the lazy-tongs, of course, are pushed back to their normal nonextended condition, as shown most clearly in Fig. 1.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I provide not only a most simple construction for the purpose intended, but also one possessing the capability of holding the maximum amount of goods and keeping said goods, when not being displayed, free from damage by dust, or otherwise, the device also affording ample opportunity for the ready display and exhibition of the goods to a prospective customer.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. The combination of a case having an open side and a door for controlling said open side,-and extensible devices connected to the case and the door and provided with article holding means connected to the extensible devices only and constructed and adapted to hold articles in close proximity with relation to each other While within the case and to separate the articles to a considerable extent when moved partly out of the case.

2. The combination of a case having an open side and a door hinged to the casing for controlling said open side, extensible devices within the case and connected to the case and to the door, and rods provided with article holding means connected to said extensible devices and adapted and constructed to hold articles in close proximity with relation to each other while within the case and to separate the articles to a considerable extent when moved partly out of the case.

3. The combination of a case having an open side and a door for controlling said open side, the lower edge of the door being hinged to the lower portion of the case, parallel extensible and contractible devices arranged within the casenear opposite ends thereof, and having their rear ends connected to the back of the case and their forward ends connected to the hinged door, a series of longitudinal rods having their opposite ends connected to'the extensible and contractible devices, and a series of clamps connected to each rod, said clamps adapted to releasably engage and hold umbrellas, canes, and the like.

4. The combination of a case having an open side and a door for controlling said open side, a series of longitudinal tubes arranged within the case, and provided on their under sides, and longitudinally thereof, with slots, and clamps arranged beneath the tubes and having members extending through the slots of the tubes, said members provided with upper portions or devices fitting within the tubes, and the said clamps adapted to releasably engage and hold umbrellas, canes, and the like.

5. The combination of a case having an open side, a door for controlling said open side, a series of open ended longitudinal tubes arranged within the case, said tubes provided on their under sides, and longitudinally thereof, with slots, caps removably connected to the opposite ends of the tubes, and clamps arranged beneath the tubes and having members extending through the slots of the tubes, said members provided with upper portions or devices fitting within the tubes, and the said clamps adapted to releasably engage and hold umbrellas, canes, and the like.

6. The combination of a case having an open side, and a door for controlling said open side, a series of longitudinal tubes arranged within the case and provided on their under sides, and longitudinally thereof, with slots, and clamps arranged beneath the tubes, each clamp having members extending through the slot of a tube, said members terminating in spring coils fitting within the tube.

7. The combination of a case having an open side and a door for controlling said open side, the lower edge of said door being hinged to the case, parallel extensible and contractible devices arranged within the case near opposite ends thereof, and having their rear ends connected to the back of the case and their forward ends connected to the hinged door, a series of longitudinal tubes having their opposite ends connected to the extensible and contractible devices, said tubes provided on their under sides, and longitudinally thereof, with slots, and clamps arranged beneath the tubes and having members extending through the slots of the tubes, said members provided with upper portions or devices, fitting within the tubes, and the said clamps adapted to releasably engage and hold umbrellas, canes, and the like.

8. The combination of a case having an open side and a door for controlling said open side, the lower edge of the door being hinged to the lower portion of the case, parallel extensible and contractible devices arranged within the case near opposite ends thereof, and having their rear ends connected to the back of the case and their forward ends connected to the hinged door, a series of longitudinal tubes arranged within the case and provided on their under sides, and longitudinally thereof, with slots, and having caps or closures at their opposite ends, said caps or closures provided with projecting pins or pintles, said pins or pintles connected to the expansible and contractible de vices, and clamps arranged beneath the tubes and having members extending through the slots of the tubes, said members provided with upper portions or devices fitting within the tubes, and the said clamps adapted to releasably engage and hold umbrellas, canes, and the like.

9. The combination of a case having an neath the tubes, each clamp consisting of' spring clamp aws and arms, and members extending therefrom, and through the slots of the tubes, the said members of each clamp terminating in spring coils disposed longitudinally within the tube, and the said clamps adapted to releasably engage and hold umbrellas, canes, and the like.

10. A clamp for holding umbrellas, canes, and the like formed from a single piece of spring wire, and comprising a series of spring coils, the terminal coil having a connecting member extending therefrom, a twisted spring aw and handle extending at right angles from said connecting member, a transverse member, a second twisted spring jaw and handle extending at right angles from the transverse member, another connecting member, and a series of spring coils connected to and extending at right angles from said connecting member.

11. The combination of a case having an open side and a door for controlling said open side, a series of longitudinal tubes arranged within the case and provided on their under sides, and longitudinally thereof, with slots, and a series of clamps formed from a single piece of spring wire and comprising a series of spring coils arranged within the tube, one of the terminal coils having a connecting member extending therefrom and through the slot, a twisted spring jaw and handle extending at right angles from said connecting member, a transverse member, a second spring jaw and handle extending at right angles from the transverse member, another connecting member, and a series of spring coils connected to and extending at right angles from said connecting member.

12. The combination of a case having an open side, a door for controlling said open side, the said door hinged at its lower edge to the lower portion of the case, lazy-tongs arranged within the case near opposite ends thereof, and having their rear ends connected to the back of the case and their forward ends connected to the hinged door, a series of longitudinal rods having their opposite ends connected to the lazy-tongs, and a series of clamps connected to each rod, said clamps adapted to releaseably engage and hold umbrellas, canes, and the like.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

ADAM A. GRAU.

Witnesses A. L. MoRsnLL, ALMA A. KLUG. 

